The small hamlet of Waikino is on State Highway 12 towards the west end of the Karangahake Gorge. Heading to Waihi, it just beyond Owharoa Falls.
It was once a more significant place at the centre of gold mining along the Karangahake Gorge and Waihi. Gold dated back to the 1860s, but in 1897, it took on an industrial scale with the development of the Victoria Battery on the other side of the Ohinemuri River. Waikino’s Victoria Battery processed ore from the large Martha Mine in Waihi, which still operates today. The Battery was the largest industrial complex in NZ then, but it is now an interesting industrial ruin.
Today, Waikino’s main attraction is the old rail station next to State Highway 2. This includes a cafe and easy access to the Victoria Battery ruins and the Hauraki Rail Trail. There is also a tourist train to Waihi, but check the website before you commit to it!
